Bend Group’s Vision: Galveston Ave. Facelift

A facelift for Galveston Avenue. That’s what one Bend group said Thursday they’re hoping for, but finding the money won’t be easy. After months of work, the group presented its ideas and goals to the city council, who urged them to look for grant money.

A lack of parking, no tree-lined streets and spread-out businesses without a community feel. These are some of the challenges nearby residents and business owners say they experience on Galveston Avenue.

“I think, instead of challenges, there are opportunities here,” said Al Tozer. “That’s really why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

Tozer owns an architectural business in the area. For the past year, he and a group of neighbors have been drawing up plans for big changes, and he presented his design before the city council Wednesday night.

“We all are hopeful that the city likes the ideas,” Tozer said. “If they like the ideas, they will take the next step, to try and get a formal design from the conceptual work that we’ve done.”

The organization’s plans include adding a roundabout at Harmon Boulevard, creating friendly sidewalks and bike paths, and capturing storm water. They also say more parking is key, and they want cut-out parking along the street, similar to the spots on Newport Avenue.

Bend Mayor Jeff Eager says the city is supportive of the plan, but can’t front the bill.

“A lot of people have put a lot of hard work into it,” Eager said. “There’s a lot of potential to improve that street over there. It’s just a matter of finding the funds.”

And the funds could be in reach, because of a key feature in the plan.

“Bike and pedestrian (projects) is an area where there’s actually a lot of funding out there,” said Eager. “People at the state level and the federal level want to fund projects like that.”

There’s still a lot of legwork to be done, but Tozer said he feels confident because the plan would bring a big boost to the area.

“More people will be on foot, more people will be on a bike and Spork will have more businesses, 10 Barrel will have more business, and it will encourage other developers and contractors,” Tozer said.

With the help of the city, the group will draw up a more refined design. They hope to present the plans again, in hope of state or federal grant funding.